National Republican., 1887-04-22
The Arrow Steamship Company and
Alexandria.

The Arrow Steamship Company and
Alexandria.
TIE fact that company had purchased
the shipyard at Alexandria, proposed to
build several steamships, which, 1t was
claimed, would be much faster than any
afoat, produce revolution In marine con.
struction, and give America the supremacy
Of the seas, induced a visit to our neighbor-
ing city from one Of the editorial staff of
the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
The Arrow Steamship Company is cer-
tainly located at Alexandria, has bought
and paid for the shipyard, and done large
amount of work in the way Of preparation
to lay the keel Of their first steamer, which
is to be very appropriately named Poca
hontas.
lu charge of the Office is Mr.. James II.
Connolly, resident director, who has re-
moved his family to Alexandria. With
him is Mr.. l.. w. Thurber, as chief account
ant. Messrs. NJ. V. B. Soaring and W. G.
Wood, trustees, are preparing the grounds
ard building the ways, and Capt Robt. NJ
Fryer, marine engineer, will construct the
chip.
\ large amount of work has already been
done toward preparing the ground, all the
laborers that can proftably be employed be.
ing now at work, and Capt. Fryer has the
lal and models for the engines, keel, and
plates, now being made under his own
direction. The engines will be built AZ
Paterson, N. j., under the supervision Of
Mr.. Il. Bergen, forge master, and the plates
prepared In Pittsburg, under the direction
of Mr.. Jas. II. Stephens, boiler and plate
master. Both Of these gentlemen are now
in Alexandria receiving instructions.
The plans of Tie Pocahontas are bold
C,paiture from all our precouceived ideas
of stipbuilding, and Capt. Fryer says they
are the res lit of twenty years. study upon
his part. He and the gentlemen associated
with him feel very confident Of triumph
ant success, and they certainly have the
Endorsement Of engineers and shipbuilders
of ability and standing, among whom are
Gen. Charles Graham, formerly consulting
engineer Of the Brooklyn navy yard; Nj.
Frank Brewer, associated member Ameri-
can Institute Civil Engineers, and Capt. F.
d. Collins, Of the well known Collins
Brewer indorses it:
Her method of construction Is, beyond ali
question, the strongest possible. She could
without injury, be supported by her two ends
al the center and used as a bridge. Indeed
there is rot a bridge in the world that, in pro
portion TO its length, possesses such strength
as she does. And she will be beyond the pos.
sibillly of destruction by fire or water, since
she will be non-sinkable and non.burnable
Had our government, at the commencement
OF our civil war, been in possession of thest
plans. 1t could have constructed within six OF
seven months fifteen or twenty vessels for wal
purposes which would have been unrlvaled
in strength, speed, and effectiveness. lie
system of compartments and the application
ofppeumatic pressure in them are OF the great
eat value. The placing of her engine, tn
engine itself, the supporting OF her shat, tn
independent grouping OF her boilers, the ar
rangements for the coal supply, aud the i'm
proved conditions of her fire rooms, are al
features ofinGnite superiority over the presen
system of construction. AS whole, she vii
be im!neasurably beyond any sea.going vesse
the world has ever seen.
1t is not proposed in this article to at
tempt description OF the Po:Ihontas or
10 discuss tine merits Of the plans on whlcl
she Is to be built. We eleave the laSer to mel
whose training makes their opinions valua-
bic. The managers, as before stated
are thoroughly satisfied, and are proving
their faith by their works, for they ar,
getting everything ready to spend severa
hundred thousand dollars in building thu
first ship. We can say, however, that tht
examinations OF the plans and the opinions
OF competent authorities, with the perfec
faith In success exhibited by the managers
induces one who is not an expert to believt
that the problem OF rapid transit on th,
ocean will be solved when the Pocahonta
is launched and ready for sea, as we ar
assured by the constructors she will b
early in the next year.
The lines of the ship, as any one can see
indicate great speed, the method of con
struction, as explained by Capt. Fryer, viii
give immense strength, the Improvement
in the engines tremendous power, while IN,
weight Of the great iron keel, 750 tons, anC
placing the engines and boilers directly oI
the keel, will give steadlness. These sue
cessfully combined will make q perfec
vessel, ard the cost Of the Pocahontas /
estimated to be only 100000, less than hal
that of vessels of her class built on the oil
plans.
The NATIONAL REPUBLICANS inquiry au
objects were more specially directed to th
discovery Of whether the Arrow Steamshi
Company was an entity promising new er
of growth aud prosperity to Alexandra
AS 10 that we are satisfied the company
there, and is bound to bring large amour
of money to the old city. Already NOR
than dozen Of its officials have becom
residents, aud Capt. Fryer said to the write
that he would at one time have at least ST
htadred men at work in the shipyard on tn
Pocahontas. Next year the company In
tends to build two ships for their own llnt
and it is beyond doubt that II the Pocahor
tas proves to be all that is claimed for 1t th
company win have to build an immons
number Of ships under contracts for othy
parties.
The mere fact that this company Ia
established itself at Alexandria will Undue
other men In various lines Of business t
examine into the advantages the plac